GMB ends talk of merger with T&G

The GMB general union has scotched rumours that it is talking about merging with its larger counterpart, the T&G.

A report in The Scotsman newspaper said the two unions were considering a merger "in a move designed to present a heavyweight challenge to Tony Blair".

It quoted incoming T&G general secretary Tony Woodley as saying: "It is obvious that the T&G and the GMB and others have got to consider reducing costs and reducing unnecessary competitiveness" and that he would like to see "one road transport union, one rail union and one big general union".

A GMB spokeswoman said there "were no merger talks" and that people in the union "aren't discussing it".

She added that four major unions were "looking at ways of working more co-operatively" but that merger was "ruled out" for the foreseeable future.

Meanwhile proposals aimed at ending the GMB's financial difficulties were to be presented to the Central Executive Council as Labour Research went to press.

The union was forced to sell £1 million of shares in July after bankers said its overdraft limit had been reached.